Gen-X 1 Old Guard-0

So the old guard has been put down ruthlessly.Dada,Sachin,Dravid,Laxman(gilly) the great indian middle order found wanting in T20.Sachin's mumbai was very unlucky to make the semi's they last three matches they lost were all victories being thrown away rather than losses. Kolkata too dint have lady luck on their side with their monster batsman gayle getting injured a day before the ipl hungama.But the dada,buchannan,srk mela was never going to come off that smoothly.Yet dada managed to salvage somthing with a stunning performance against punjab.
The other two teams were dismal to put it lightly.Laxman had no idea what being a captain meant i mean running off to the MONKEY for advice is the limit.The team was uninspired for the most part.Bangalore received a hammerblow in the first match and never recovered from it. Despite having probably the best bowling attack they could not put up enough to win matches.Some strange team selections and panic attacks in a few close matches early on ensured that bangalore was out of the race early.
The above four could make the semi's next year but for now it is Gen-X 1 Old Guard-0

Grant Sent Home

I would not say the sacking had any good reason behind it except roman might have been really pissed at losing to manu in his own backyard. The guy as i earlier mentioned had managed the club decently in really turbulent times. Compare his team's performance with that of Liverpool which performed worse under similar boardroom troubles. Couple that with the injuries to key players throughout the season and the african cup of nations you see that grant has done a good job of challenging on every front.
A lot of people say he had no involvement in the training ground and steve clark does all the groundwork et all but i am for the maxim 'If it aint broke dont fix it' . Done's done though grant is gone and a new manager in the horizon. Personally would like to see lippi take charge. Lippi vs Fergie would be absolutely lip smacking. Lets see what happens though more likely rijkaard or hiddink or scolari will be in charge.

The devils getting closer

Another trophyless season for my beloved Liverpool,another season of success for manu(cant they just die like the class of 58).

Liv - ManU
English Titles 18--17
European Cup 5---3

Pull your socks up u scousers time has come to defend the history of the club.

La Finale

First of all what was Terry thinking while taking that penalty.It would have been hugely better off if kalou/essien had taken that penalty.If it is going to be your life's best moment then you better enjoy rather than try to be a hero.But one must add that terry had been heroic for most of the match if not the whole season.
The match started in a very cagey fashion.With neither side creating any openings till the 26th min when scholes and brown played a delightfull excange of passes,then brown put in a good cross that was headed in superbly by ronaldo.The goal seemed to better compose man u better and they started taking control of the midfield.They had an amazing chance later when rooney sent a superb cros field ball that ronaldo controlled well and set tevez up but cech was equal to the task and saved superbly twice in succession from tevez and then carrick.Tevez again had a great chance when hargeaves square was missed by every body.
But near the stroke of half time a hopefull essien shot was deflected and with van der sar caught in the wrong foot lampard finshed with superb composure.The second half was chelsea all the way the midfield trio of lampard ballack and makelele were controlling things well and chelsea were looking dangerous.The drogba shot in particular almost getting them the cup.Players were tiring now though after a loooooooong season and also due to the poor surface.Malouda had a decent penalty shout when ferdinand seemed to trip him but was waved off.Extra time brought a superb chelsea move with cole and ballack setting lampard up whose turn and shot let van der sar rooted but it came off the post.Giggs then had a chance of his own with evra fantastic run and cross but terry was on hand to smother the attack.A petty argument then started over putting the ball out leading to drogba getting himself sent off stupidly.
Down to penalties ronaldo being his usual showy self missed it while terry unfortunately slipped when he could have won the cup for chelsea.Anelka then missed to give Manu 6-5 win in the penalties.
Felt sorry for chelsea,pissed off at manu and overall am depressed

Leeds In Final

Its good to see leeds in the league one playoff finals.It was sad to see them sink another league at the end of last season and with the harsh fifteen point deduction the final is richly deserved.It will be even better if they win and come to the championships with Nottm Forest.Now forest is another club which has a even more illustrious history than leeds with two european championships and several years of great football in the premier league.
Two giant clubs coming back up is great for the game and for the fans.It improves the quality and the atmosphere of the league.The Leeds-ManU match is one of the biggest matches of the season and the likes that everybody looks forward to. Hope to see both teams soon in the premier league.

Question Of the day

What was present in the following different forms

•1971 – 1975 : Peasant on a mule

•1976 : bear cub by an oak

•1977-1988 : a girl under a umbrella

•1995-present : enchanted wanderer

On avram grant

So the season ends and man u retain the league ( through some horrific refreeing but that should be a separate post) but the real surprise in the season was avram grant. I have to say i was a bit shocked when jose was sacked , though it was clear that there is only one outcome when you keep sticking your tongue out at your boss, and nobody then knew who avram grant was....this joker is going to manage carvalho,ballack,terry,lampard and drogba ? everyone exclaimed . The first few weeks were horrendous to say the least defeat to manu in his first match and then a lucky draw against fulham convinved no one.....but since then the results have been astounding.
How much of it is his work is questionable though...the main weapons of chelsea still remain the dodged defending and their unbeaten record at home.....the man certainly benifitted from the professionalism of the team he inherited and its work ethic.....but then gradualy he seems to have won the team over...terry speaking out in his support is testament to that....he was much pillored for chelsea's shortcoming's in the league and fa cups...and rightly so in case of the league cup final where he sacrificed the team formation for the returning big names....
they looked short of conviciton in the fa cup qf too....
On the other hand they were awesome against manu,arsenal at home in the league and against liverpool in the champs league return leg....his team mgmt in these matches have been exceptional....but the draw against wigan again shows his/team's shortcomings...
The point is a team like chelsea with terry,makelele,carvalho,lampard,drogba,cole and anelka doesnt need much managing except a few tactical changes now and then...that has been done competently by grant....so another atleast has to given to the man to prove himself